Detachable refrigerated cutting block apparatus



May 2, 1939. B, $M|TH 2,156,795

DETACHABLE REFRIGERATED CUTTING BLOCK APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1957 b e f .FIG. 3

IN VENTOR.

7 7 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 2, 1939 7 2,156,795

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE REFRIGERATED CUTTING BLOCK APPARATUS Beauford B. Smith, San Diego, Calif.

Application June 14, 1937, Serial No. 148,122 12 Claims. (CI. 62-11) My invention relates to a refrigerated cutting tional view of the detachable cutting block and block used for preparing food in retail food refrigerated unit shown when removed from the establishments, small concerns, and for domestic rest of the apparatus. use, and the objects of my invention are: Similar characters of reference refer to simi- First, to provide a meat or cutting block in lar parts and portions throughout the several 5 which the cutting surface is chilled by refrigerviews of the drawing.

.ation and the unit including the cutting surface The outer casing I, inner casing 2, insulation 3, is readily removable for treatment in various cover members 4 and5, detachable casing 6, reways; frigerating coil I, cutting surface block support Second, to provide an apparatus of this class B, and cutting surface blocks 9 constitute the 1 0' with a casing for holding the block surface and principal parts and portions of my detachable refrigerating coils in a single unit which may refrigerated cutting block apparatus. be readily removed; The outer casing I is preferably circular in Third, to provide a block of this class with form and provided with downwardly extending means for keeping the upper surface covered and lug portions Ia upon which the apparatus rests. 1 5

for supporting the covers in position for holding It is provided near its upper side with straight material when the surface is open ready for use; portions lb and lo to the upper edges of which Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this class are hinged the cover members 4 and 5 respecwith a compartment that may be used for stortively by means of hinges 4a and 5a. These age or an air conditioning unit; cover members are made double providing air Fifth, to provide a structure of this class in spaces 41)., and SD for insulation of the cover which the blocks and refrigerating coil are supmembers, and the walls are separated by spaced ported in contiguous unitary relation to each lugs 4 and 5 and it is preferred to make the other; inside of these cover members of light stainless Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class in alloy. The hinge side of the cover members is 2 which the cutting block and refrigerating unit offset at 40 and 50 so that when the cover memare so positioned in the main portion of the bers 'are closed they are spaced from the upper block that it may be readily removed and still surface of the cutting block as shown best in forms a tight fit with the casing in which it is Fig. l of the drawing, the inner edges being promounted; vided with downwardly extending ledges 4d and 30 Seventh, to provide an apparatus of this class 5d which rest upon the block at the middle when which is very simple and economical of con closed. These cover members are provided on struction, easy to operate, efiicient in its action their upper surfaces when closed with brace and which will not readily deteriorate or get members 4e and 5e which serve as supports for out of order. the cover when in their open position, the ends 35 With these and other objects in view as will of said braces extending into notches Ie in the appear hereinafter, my invention consists of opposite sides of the outer casing I. This outer certain novel features of construction, combinacasing is provided with an upwardly and intion, and arrangement of parts and portions as wardly extending Portion Id w c extends from will be hereinafter described in detail and parthe hinge portion 5a and also from the ppe 40 ticularly set forth in the appended claims, referedge of the member I and extends inwardly ence being had to the accompanying drawing and. against the upper S e f the OaSiIig 5 providing a to the characters of reference thereon which fit between the upper edge of the casing 6 and form a part of this application in which: the upper edge of the member I. Connecting Figure 1 is a sectional view of my detachable with the lower inner side of the portion Id is the :5 refrigerated cutting block apparatus showing inner casing 2. This inner casing 2 is provided the cover in closed relation over the block surface with an enlarged portion 26 providing 9; ul r at one side and open at the opposite side and 2b on which rests detachable casing 6. Then taken along the line II of Fig. 2 showing some this inner casing 2 is reduced and forms a storof the parts in elevation to facilitate the illustraage chamber provided with a door 20 in one side 50 tion; Fig. 1A is a reduced fragmentary sectional to provide access to the interior for loosening and view from the line Ia of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a top removing the detachable casing 6 as well as an or plan view of my detachable refrigerated cutentrance and exit for storage goods. The space ting block apparatuswith one-of the covers closed between the casings I and 2 is filled with suitable and the other open and Fig. 3 is a side elevainsulation material 3. Mounted in the casing 6 5 spaced from the upper edge thereof is the cutting surface block support 8 which is secured to the interior surface of the casing 6 and forms a partition in horizontal position therein. The support is flat on its upper surface and is adapted to support the cutting surface blocks 9 which are preferably of moisture impregnated wood and formed with smooth upper surface in close relation to each other as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The upper surface of the blocks 9 are substantially flush with the upper v surface of the portion Id and the upper edge of the casing 6 all as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The lower side of the support 8 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 8a and resting against the lower side of these ribs 8a is the refrigerating coil 1, thus'conducting the refrigeration into the ribs through the support 8 and blocks 9. This coil connects at one end with a drop conductor la and at its opposite end with a drop conductor 1b both of which extend downwardly through the bottom of the casing 6 at opposite sides and are supported by means of nuts on the opposite sides of said partition. These drop conductors extend further downwardly and are provided with coupling nuts 1c and Id which are adapted to receive coupling members Illa and [b which connect with conductors l0 and II which conductors l0 and II connect with a refrigerating machine (not shown) thus forming a circuit by means of the conductors 10, la, and lb and coils I.

In order to utilize the storage or air conditioning portion when the cutting block unit is removed, there is provided a partition 2d immediately below the casing 6 and closing the upper side of this storage compartment to conserve the cold air therein. Also, to provide greater refrigeration of the blocks 9 from the coils 1, there is provided insulation 6a which seals to a large extent the coil 1 and causes refrigeration to be forced upwardly into the blocks 9.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: when the apparatus is not in use, the cover members 4 and 5 are closed and refrigeration from the refrigerating machine passes through the conductors l0 and la and coil "I and out through conductors lb and II in continuous circuit chilling the coil 1, thus chilling the support 8 and the blocks 9, thus providing a chilled surface block. If it is desired to use the whole of the upper surface of the block, the covers 4 and 5 may be tilted back and placed as shown by the open cover in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, and these covers may be used as receptacles for holding goods if desired. However, one of the cover members may be closed and the other one open for using only a portion of the cutting block. Goods for the refrigeration may also be placed in the casing 2 below the casing 6 through the door 20 for cold storage. If it is desired to refinish the block surface, clean it, or otherwise treat it, it may be readily removed by loosening the couplings la and "lb and then the casing 6 may be lifted out as shown in its detached relation in Fig. 8 of the drawing.

It will be here noted that in case the moisture is evaporated to any large extent because of the freezing of the blocks 9, the moisture may be restored to the blocks either by absorption or by some hydraulic means.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a detachable refrigeration cutting block apparatus, a unitary insulated box member open at its upper end, an encased refrigerating coil, cutting surface block support, and blocks, readily detachably supported in the upper end thereof.

2. In a detachable refrigeration cutting block apparatus, a unitary insulated box member open at its upper end, an encased refrigerating coil, cutting surface block support, and blocks, readily detachably supported in the upper end thereof, and a pair of opposed cover members positioned on the outer side of said casing foldable over the upper side of said cutting blocks in spaced relation therewith.

3. In a detachable refrigeration cutting block apparatus, a unitary insulated box member open at its upper end, an encased refrigerating coil, cutting surface block support, and blocks readily detachably supported in the upper end thereof, a pair of opposed cover members positioned on the outer side of said casing foldable over the upper side of said cutting blocks in spaced relation therewith, and each of said cover members being provided with a brace support for engagement with said casing and supporting said covers in open extended position.

4. In a detachable refrigeration cutting block apparatus, a hollow insulated box member having a relatively small diameter at its lower side and relatively large diameter at its upper side providing a shoulder in the wall thereof and open at its upper side.

5. In a detachable refrigeration cutting block apparatus, a hollow insulated box member having a relatively small diameter at its lower side and relatively large diameter at its upper side providing a shoulder in the wall thereof and open at its upper side, and a readily detachable refrigerating unit and block surface mounted in the larger portion of said cylinder and supported on said shoulder.

6. In a detachable refrigeration cutting block apparatus, a hollow insulated box member having a relatively small diameter at its lower side and relatively large diameter at its upper side providing a shoulder in the wall thereof and open at its upper side, a readily detachable refrigerating unit and block surface mounted in the larger portion of said cylinder and supported on said shoulder, and a horizontal partition interposed between the cutting block and said refrigeration coil.

7. In a detachable refrigeration cutting block apparatus, a hollow insulated box member having a relatively small diameter at its lower side and relatively large diameter at its upper side providing a shoulder in the wall thereof and open at its upper side, a readily detachable refrigerating unit and block surface mounted in the larger portion of said cylinder and supported on said shoulder, a horizontal partition interposed between the cutting block and said refrigeration coil, and air insulated cover members on opposite sides of said insulated box member and adapted to hinge over the upper surface of said box in surfaced relation therewith or extend outwardly below the upper surface of said blocks in opposite directions.

8. In an apparatus or the class described, a readily detachable refrigeration cutting block, including a casing, a supporting partition positioned horizontally therein intermediate its upper and lower sides, cutting blocks filling the casing above said partition, and a refrigerating coil adjacent the lower side of said partition.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a readily detachable refrigeration cutting block, including a casing, a supporting partition positioned horizontally therein intermediate its upper and lower sides, cutting blocks filling the casing above said partition, a refrigerating coil adjacent the lower side of said partition, and cooling medium conductors readily detachably connected with said coil outwardly of said casing.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a readily detachable refrigeration cutting block, including a casing, a supporting partition positioned horizontally therein intermediate its upper and lower sides, cutting blocks filling the easing above said partition, a refrigerating coil adjacent the lower side of said partition, cooling medium conductors readily detachably connected with said coil outwardly of said casing, and an insulated casing with an enlarged open end adapted to receive said detachable casing and support the upper sides of said cutting blocks in horizontal position above said insulated casing.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a readily detachable refrigeration cutting block, including a casing, a supporting partition positioned horizontally therein intermediate its upper and lower sides, cutting blocks filling the casing above said partition, a refrigerating coil adjacent the lower side of said partition, cooling medium conductors readily detachably connected with said coil outwardly of said casing, an insulated casing with an enlarged open end adapted to receive said detachable casing and support the upper sides of said cutting blocks in horizontal position above said insulated casing, and combined cover members and receptacles pivotally connected to the side walls of said insulated casing near the upper side adapted to cover said blocks when in closed position and forming receiving receptacles when in open position.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a readily detachable refrigeration cutting block, including a casing, a supporting partition positioned horizontally therein intermediate its upper and lower sides, cutting blocks filling the casing above said partition, a refrigerating coil adjacent the lower side of said partition, cooling medium conductors readily detachably connected with said coil outwardly of said casing, an insulated casing with an enlarged open end adapted to receive said detachable casing and support the upper sides of said cutting blocks in horizontal position above said insulated casing, combined cover members and receptacles pivotally connected to the side walls of said insulated casing near the upper side adapted to cover said blocks when in closed position and forming receiving receptacles when in open position, and said insulated casing provided with a storage compartment in its lower side below said detachable casing.

BEAUFORD B. SMITH. 

